Albanian special forces undergo NATO-standard assessment during Illyrian Shield 26
Albanian Defence Minister Ermal Nufi has shared footage from the Illyrian Shield 26 military exercise, where Albania’s armed forces are assessing a special operations unit declared to NATO. The assessment covers the Special Operations Land Task Group, a capability of the Albanian Armed Forces. Certified Albanian evaluators from NATO’s Special …
President Trump nominates Mikhail Bogachek as US ambassador to Kosovo
PRISHTINA, Nov 11 /ATA/ – US President Donald Trump has nominated Mikhail Bogachek as the next US ambassador to Kosovo, submitting his name to the Senate for confirmation, the White House announced on November 10. “Mikhail Bogachek, of Florida, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of …
Shehu: EU report confirms Albania’s progress; violence cannot replace democratic dialogue
Arianit Shehu, Executive Director of the American Center for Combating Extremism and Terrorism (ACCET), says the European Commission’s 2026 Progress Report confirms Albania’s progress towards EU membership. In an opinion article, Shehu says European integration must remain above party interests. The report, published on November 4, recognises Albania’s reforms and …
Rama: Albanians remain strong supporters of the West; Europe is our shared destination
Prime Minister Edi Rama says Albanians remain firmly committed to the European project. Despite political polarisation, internal conflicts and protests, he says EU membership remains the country’s shared goal. Speaking at the discussion “Europe’s Shared Future: Enlargement and the Next Generation”, held during the Paris Peace Forum, Rama linked Albania’s …
Demo: Albania is not Europe’s backyard, but part of its front door
Albania plays an important role in European security, Interior Minister Ervin Demo said today. He made the statement while opening the international conference “Regional Security: New Risks, Stronger Cooperation” in Tirana. Regional representatives, EU officials and Italian delegates attended the event. “Albania is not Europe’s backyard. We are part of …
Gogu visits Rome to strengthen judicial cooperation and support EU integration
Justice Minister Toni Gogu began a two-day working visit to Rome today. He held talks with senior Italian officials to strengthen cooperation in justice and support Albania’s European integration. During the first day, Gogu met Maurizio Gasparri, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. He also met …
UEFA Fair Play report: Albania leads Europe in improvement
Albania has recorded the biggest improvement in UEFA’s Fair Play rankings for the 2025/26 season. According to UEFA’s official report, Albania scored 7.789 points, up from 7.503 in the previous season. The increase of 0.286 points places the country first in Europe for progress. Iceland ranks second, with an improvement …
Hoxha expresses solidarity with victims of tragic accident in Bulgaria
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha has expressed his condolences to the families affected by a tragic accident in Bulgaria. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic accident in Bulgaria, which has claimed many lives and left others injured. Our thoughts and sincere condolences go to the victims’ …
Dhuka: Albania completes technical preparations to close five more EU negotiating chapters
Albania has completed the technical preparations to provisionally close five more EU negotiating chapters in 2026, Chief EU Negotiator Majlinda Dhuka announced today. Speaking before the Parliamentary Committee on European Affairs and Foreign Policy, Dhuka said Albania continues to follow the EU roadmap, which предусматри the closure of six additional …
Special evening celebrates Albania’s cultural heritage at the Palace of Brigades
Albania’s rich cultural heritage, from north to south, took centre stage at a special event held last night at the Palace of Brigades in Tirana. The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports organised the event as part of the 20th Annual Conference of the UNESCO Network of Experts on Intangible …
TIRANA, Nov 14 /ATA/ – The Customs Administration collected 207 billion leks in revenue in the January-October period of 2026, an increase of 7.6 billion leks compared with the same period a year earlier, official data showed on Saturday. The figure marks the highest customs revenue recorded for the first …
TIRANA, Nov 14 /ATA/ – Main opposition Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha has called on opposition forces to unite behind joint candidates in the upcoming local elections. Speaking during an online exchange with citizens on Saturday, Berisha said guidelines setting out the procedures for selecting candidates for mayoral positions had …
TIRANA, Nov 14 /ATA/ – Albania is showcasing its tourism potential at the PHILOXENIA 2026 International Tourism Fair in Thessaloniki, Greece, from Nov. 13 to 15, seeking to expand its reach in international markets and strengthen tourism ties with neighbouring countries. As part of the event, Jola Hysaj, director-general of …
The uncertainty over the summit exposes tensions between Prime Minister Rama’s international ambitions, Albania’s limited resources and a deepening political crisis at home. TIRANA, Albania – Albania will not host a NATO summit in 2027, Prime Minister Edi Rama has acknowledged, reversing months of confident government announcements about what had been …
By Sidonja Manushi TIRANA, Albania – The Federation of Saudi Chambers has launched International Business Concierge (IBC), a new platform designed to facilitate the entry of foreign companies into the Saudi market, support business establishment and encourage international investment in the Kingdom. The initiative forms part of Saudi Arabia’s broader …
Prime Minister Edi Rama announced changes to the Socialist Party’s regional leadership at a meeting of its National Assembly taking place this Saturday in Lalzi Bay. Under the reshuffle, Ervin Demo and Albana Koçiu will jointly lead the party’s operations in Tirana. The changes come as the Socialist Party prepares …
Speaking at the Socialist Party’s National Assembly, Prime Minister Edi Rama discussed the European Commission’s latest enlargement report, describing its recommendation for Albania as historic. Rama said the report contained a passage that, in his view, had received too little attention given its significance for Albania’s European integration. He was …
Prime Minister Edi Rama commented on the protests that have taken place across Albania in recent weeks, saying demonstrators had thrown stones and Molotov cocktails. He said the Socialist Party would step up its efforts to engage with citizens. Speaking at the Socialist Party’s National Assembly, Rama said the opposition …
Prime Minister Edi Rama responded to criticism of media freedom in Albania, claiming that government critics are widely represented in the Albanian media and that Albania stands apart from other countries when it comes to freedom of expression. Speaking at the Socialist Party’s National Assembly, Rama said 60% of the …
TIRANA, November 14 /ATA/ – Democratic Party Chairman Sali Berisha spoke today during an online discussion with supporters. He addressed Prime Minister Rama’s speech at the Socialist Party’s National Assembly, as well as recent developments—specifically the European Commission’s report and the decision against holding the 2027 NATO summit in Tirana, …